5 Summer Treats for Your Dog

With summer and the warmer weather here, it is important that your dog does not get overheated. Brachycephalic (smooshed face) breeds and breeds with thick hair coats can be at an especially high risk of overheating in the hot months. This may make you wonder “What can I give my pup to cool down?” There are many fun treats that you can make at home for your dog to keep him cool and happy!

Before heading to the kitchen, there are a few ingredients you should always avoid when baking for your pets. NEVER put xylitol (an artificial sweetener that can sometimes be found in peanut butter), raisins, grapes, or chocolate in your dogs’ treats!

The following are 5 easy at home frozen treat recipes you can make for your dog to help cool down this summer:

1.) Peanut Butter and Fruit Freezies

Ingredients:

1 cup berries (strawberries, blueberries or raspberries)

¼ cup water

A few tablespoons of peanut butter that doesn’t contain xylitol (check the label!)

Method:

Wash and clean fruit (cut tops off strawberries)

Puree fruit in a blender with water

Place fruit puree in an ice cube tray or silicone mold, filling ¾ of the way

Add a small amount of peanut butter to each mold

Freeze until completely frozen

2.) Fruit and Yogurt Freezies

Ingredients:

1 cup fruit (berries, apple, melon, banana, pineapple)

Remember: NO GRAPES!

1 cup Greek or plain yogurt

Method:

Clean and prep fruit – dice fruit to small pieces that will fit into the ice cube tray

Place diced fruit into ice cube trays or silicone mold

Fill mold with yogurt

Freeze until completely frozen

3.) Cantaloupe Ice Cream

Ingredients:

2 cups frozen, diced cantaloupe

2 tbsp plain yogurt

Method:

Clean, dice and freeze cantaloupe

Place cantaloupe into a food processor with yogurt and blend until smooth

Serve frozen. Optional: top with some of your dogs’ kibble!

4.) Frozen Banana Bites

Ingredients:

1 banana

1 ½ cups watermelon

1 cup pineapple

Method:

Puree watermelon and pineapple

Slice banana

Place banana into silicone mold or ice cube tray

Fill mold to top with the watermelon/pineapple puree

Freeze until solid

5.) Frozen Kong

A Kong toy can provide hours of entertainment for a dog and it can be filled with many different types of ingredients. Pre-made cheese-like aerosol products or peanut butter can be used to fill the Kong and then freeze, or you can make your own delicious mixture! Following are a few examples:

Remember, give treats in moderation to avoid excessive calories. Pet owners should also know that eating a large amount of food too fast can lead to bloating and abdominal pain. Also, some dogs can be very sensitive to eating new things like yogurt and this can lead to upset stomach (vomiting and diarrhea). Any concerns about your pet’s health should be addressed with your family veterinarian. If you find other online homemade dog treat recipes, please consult with your family veterinarian before giving to your dog to ensure all ingredients are safe.

We hope your pet enjoys these tasty treats and stays cool this summer!